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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who guards the mountain?

2. What does the mountain watch over?

3. What did Gilgamesh think would bring Enkidu back to life?

4. Who is Utnapishtim?

5. What does Gilgamesh put over Enkidu when he is dead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Tablet 5, Column 4, Line 6 which reads, "His tears [gushed forth] in streams." To whom does the line refer? Shamash was speaking in the lines just prior to this line. Gilgamesh is speaking in Line 7. There is no clear indication who is crying or why. Gilgamesh may be crying tears of joy because Humbaba has been defeated. Enkidu may be crying for no apparent reason. Humbaba, the demon, may even be crying because he has been defeated. Discuss the line and who you think could be the party responsible for crying.

Essay Topic 2

Tablet 3, Column 6, Line 229 notes that Gilgamesh cries after an unrecorded address by the elders. Why do you think the young hero cries at this point? Is he behaving like a pouty child who is being prevented from having his way? Or does Gilgamesh have a moment of realization where the weight of what he has vowed to accomplish hits him? Epic heroes cannot back out of boasts once they are issued so Gilgamesh must follow through with his stated intentions.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role of women in the Gilgamesh epic. The courtesan functions to lead Enkidu out of the woods and introduce him to civilization. This could be considered a good event or a bad event. Ishtar becomes enraged when Gilgamesh spurns her love. Ishtar does not easily let her anger go and calls down terrible curses on Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

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This section contains 354 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample